Book-holder



T. P. NOLAN. BOOK HOLDER.

(No Model.)

No. 582.140. Patented May 4, 1897.

IIVVE/VTOH KM ATTORNEYS.

THOMAS F. NOLAN, OF NE\V HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BOOK-HOLDEFL $PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,140, dated May 4, 1897.

Application filed July 10, 1896. Serial No. 598,730. (No model.)

To aZZ whom zit 'nwq concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. NOLAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Holders, fully set forth and described in the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which Figure 1 represents a book with a holder cmbodying this invention aftixed thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the holder, the socket for the bolt being partly broken away; Fig. 3, a similar view of the parts in their folded position; Fig. 4, a rear enlarged elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a front elevation of the clamping device; Figs. 6 and 7, rear and side enlarged elevations of the bolt; Fig. 8, a top view of the clamping device, and Fig. 9 a detail view of the pivoted arm.

In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

This invention relates to book-holders for retaining books inopen positions without the constant use of the hands of the reader; and it consists of a clamping device for attaching the holder to the book, an arm pivotally connected to the clamping device having a transverse bar adapted to rest on the pages of the book, and means for locking the arm so that the rod will hold the book open, as more fully described and claimed hereinafter together, with minor improvements.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description, the clamping device consists of plates of sheet metal or other substance, the upper one A having ways a for the lower one B to slide in, Fig. 5, thereby giving them a telescopic connection, so that they may be lengthened or shortened, as desired. At the upper end of the plate A is a top plate a, (see Fig. 8,) like the sector of a circle, formed integral with or secured to and at right angles to the plate A. Extending from the top plate a, parallel to the plate A, is a thin piece of metal or blade c the widest portion or plane of which is at right angles to that of the plate A, Figs. 2, 3, and 5. A similar plate I) and blade I) are shown at the lower end of the plate B. To affix this clamping device to a book or magazine X, the plates are drawn outward so that the book may be placed between the inner ends of the blades a and h,which are thereupon forced toward each other, each slipping between the pages of the book. (See Fig. 1.)

At the upper end of the plate A, on the opposite side from the blade is secured a socket C for a bolt D. The socket is of ordinary construction, a portion 0 being cut away to form a slot for the play of a stud (Z on the bolt D. Near the lower end of the bolt D is aliixed in any desired manner a spring d, adapted to bear on the inside of the socket O and prevent the slipping of the bolt in the socket unless pressure is used sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring. A rightangled arm E is pivotally connected .at one end to the bolt D by a pin 6 and carries at the other end a transverse rod or rest F, which, having a swivel connection with the arm E, is enabled to assume any desired angle when in use, resting on the pages of a book. At the pivoted end of the arm E is a tongue G, which extends into a longitudinal slot (1 in the upper. end of the bolt D. The tongue G, being adapted to fold into the slot d of the bolt D, is also adapted to enter the socket G when the bolt is drawn downward, thereby locking the arm E and rod F against the book.

The inner edge of the tongue G is curved to form an eccentric, so that the farther it is drawn by the bolt into the socket C it will turn the arm E on its pivot and draw the outer end, with the rod F, toward the plate A, Fig. 3. The top plate a of the plate A is of sutlicient size to prevent the end of the tongue Gwhen out of the socket 0 from marring the end of the book. A lug g, projecting laterally from the tongue G, is adapted to come in contact with the end of the bolt D and limit the outward swing of the arm E, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the holder is as follows: The clamping device, consisting of the plates A and B and associated parts, having been attached to a book X, as described above, the book is opened to the desired page, and the arm E is drawn toward the book until the end of the tongue Gis opposite the end of the socket C of the bolt D. Owing to the peculiar angular form of the arm E, it is adapted to practically lit any sized book. The bolt D is then drawn downward by the lug cl, the eccentric curve on the inner side of the tongue G forcing the arm E toward the book, so that the transverse rod F will rest across the open pages of the book. The spring d retains the bolt D in the position to which it is moved, and the book is held open. To release the holder so that the page may be turned, the bolt D is moved outward (overcoming the tension of the spring 01) until the end of the tongue is clear of the socket, when the arm E is swung backward and outward, the lug g striking against the end of the bolt D.

Fig. 1 shows the blades of the clamping device between the same pages as the arm E, but the clamping device, being once affixed to a book, need not be changed, as the arm E is adjusted for successive pages, for the bolt D is capable of a limited rotary movement, the limitation being the width of the slot 0 in the socket for the play of the stud cl.

The device may serve as a book-mark by forcing the bolt outward and turning the rod F so that it will fit between the pages instead of across them. It may obviously be used on amagazine or other similar article, as the invention is not limited to the particular object in connection with which it is used.

Having now described my invention, the details of which may vary without departing from the spirit thereof, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A book-holder consisting of a clamping device to be secured to a book, or other similar article; an arm pivotally connected to said clamping device; and a transverse rod or rest at the free end of said arm, having a pivotal connection therewith, adapted to rest on the pages of the book, to hold it open, substantially as described.

2. A book-holder consisting of a clamping device to be secured to a book or other similar article; an arm pivotally connected to said clamping device; a transverse rod or rest at the free end of said arm; and means for locking said arm when said rod or rest is in contact with the book, substantially as described.

3. A book-holder consisting of a clamping device to be secured to a book or other similar article; a bolt capable of alimited longitudinal movement on said clamping device; an arm pivoted in said bolt, having a transverse rod or rest at one end, and a tongue at the other, adapted to be engaged in said clamping device, to lock said arm when said rod or rest is in contact with the book, substantially as described.

4. In a book-holder, a clamping device to be secured to a book or other similar article, consisting of two main plates, one of which has lon gitudinal-extendin g ways for the other, each plate having at its outer end a thin blade secured thereto, the widest portion of which is at right angles to that of said plates, said blades being adapted to extend inwardly between the pages of abook to secure the clamping device to the book, substantially as de scribed.

5. A book-holder, consisting of a clamping device, to be secured to abook or other similar article; a bolt adapted to slide in a socket secured to said clamping device; an arm pivotally connected to said bolt, having at its free end a transverse rod or rest, and at its pivoted end a tongue adapted to enter said socket, the inner edge of said tongue being curved to turn said arm on its pivot as said tongue enters said socket, substantially as described.

6. A book-holder, consisting of a clamping device to be secured to a book or other similar article; a bolt capable of limited longitudinal and rotary movements in a socket seowed to said clamping device; an arm pivotally connected to said bolt, having a transverse rod or rest at its free end, substantially as described.

'7. A book-holder, consisting of a clamping device to be secured to a book or other similar article; a bolt capable of limited longitudinal and rotary movements in a socket secured to said clamping device; an arm pivotally connected to said bolt, having a trans Verse rod or rest at its free end, and a tongue atits pivoted end adapted to enter said socket; and a spring in said socket to hold said bolt, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a book-holder with two main plates having telescopic connection with each other, the upper of said plates having a socket on the rear thereof; of a bolt adapted to slide in said socket; an arm pivotally connected to said bolt; a tongue at the pivoted end of said arm adapted to enter said socket; and a top plate at the upper end of said upper main plate of greater width than the length of said tongue, substantially as described.

9. In a book-holder, the combination with a clamping device to be secured to a book or other similar article; of a bolt adapted to slide in a socket secured to said clamping device; an arm pivotally secured to said bolt; and a lateral-extendin g lug on said arm adapted to come in contact with said bolt and limit the movement of said arm, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 8th day of July, 1896.

THOMAS F. NOLAN.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE M. ROBINSON, F. PHILIP FARNSWORTH.

ICO 

